Knitwear is an essential part of cold-weather fashion, and when you find a sweater you truly love, you naturally want it to last. Because fabrics like cotton, acrylic, and wool are relatively easy to care for at home, you do not always need a dry cleaner. However, the way you wash, dry, and store your knits makes all the difference—determining whether they stretch out, shrink, or lose their soft texture over time. Based on advice from laundry and garment care experts, here are eight practical ways to maintain your favorite knitwear.

1. Store Them Folded, Not Hung

Knits are made by interlocking loops of yarn, giving them much more stretch than standard woven fabrics. While this elasticity makes them comfortable to wear, it also means they easily lose their shape. Laundry expert Zach Pozniak notes in Real Simple that sweaters should be folded and kept in drawers or on shelves, or folded in half over a hanger if hanging space is limited, ensuring the garment is properly supported to prevent distortion.

Wool knitwear is also susceptible to pests like clothes moths, whose larvae feed on the protein found in animal fibers. Because bugs are more attracted to clothes with leftover sweat or stains, always wash your knits thoroughly before long-term storage and tuck in cedar blocks or lavender sachets to deter pests.

2. Always Check the Care Label

Before washing any knit garment, check the manufacturer's care label. It provides vital information regarding fiber composition, water temperature limits, and whether the item requires hand washing or can handle a gentle machine cycle.

3. Wash Gently in Cold Water

If you use a washing machine, turn the knit inside out, place it inside a mesh laundry bag, and select a delicate cycle with cold water and mild detergent.

For hand washing, use cold water and mild detergent, and wash items one at a time. Jerry Pozniak explains in Real Simple that because basins hold a limited amount of water, very little detergent is actually needed. Fill a basin with cold water, add about 1 ml of detergent, submerge the sweater, and gently work the soapy water through the fibers. Let it soak for roughly 10 minutes, then gently swirl it. When removing the garment, support its weight from underneath so the wet fibers do not stretch. Press out the soapy water gently without twisting or wringing, rinse thoroughly with fresh cold water, and press again to remove excess moisture.

4. Dry Flat

While some care labels may allow tumble drying, laying knits flat to air dry is the best way to preserve their shape. A mesh drying rack that allows airflow from all sides is ideal. Alternatively, you can lay a thick towel over a flat surface or table—just ensure the surface is safe from moisture damage and swap out the damp towel as needed while turning the sweater periodically. Reshape the garment while it is still damp to prevent severe wrinkles and stretching.

5. Tackle Pilling with a Fabric Shaver

Knits are prone to pilling—the small, fuzzy balls that form when short or broken fibers tangle together, usually in high-friction areas like the underarms and elbows. The safest and most effective way to remove pills is by using an electric fabric shaver. While tiny scissors can do the job, they carry a high risk of accidentally cutting a hole in the fabric.

6. Use Heat to Shrink Overstretched Areas

If natural fiber knits like wool or cotton develop stretched-out cuffs or necklines, you can use heat to bring them back into shape. Dip stretched cuffs briefly into a bowl of boiling water and reshape them immediately. For necklines, carefully dab hot water onto the area using a clean cloth or sponge, then adjust it back to its original form. You can let these areas air dry or speed up the process with a hair dryer on its highest heat setting, which will help the fibers contract faster.

7. Rescue Shrunk Sweaters with Fabric Softener

If a wool or cotton sweater accidentally shrunk in a hot wash, do not throw it away just yet. Fill a basin with cold water and mix in about 30 ml of baby shampoo or liquid fabric softener. Submerge the sweater and let it soak anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. Do not rinse; simply press out the excess water gently without wringing. Next, lay the sweater flat on a thick cotton towel and roll the towel up to extract as much remaining moisture as possible. Finally, pin the damp garment onto a corkboard or blocking mat, gently stretching it back to its original dimensions, and secure it with rust-proof pins placed about two inches apart until completely dry. This technique works best on natural fibers, but can also help loosen up tight synthetic knits.

8. Wash and Wear Less Often

To extend the lifespan of your knitwear, reduce both how often you wear them and how frequently you wash them. Treat stains immediately as spot-cleaners, and wear a lightweight t-shirt or blouse underneath to act as a barrier against body oils and sweat. Additionally, give your knits a day off between wears; this resting period allows the fibers to naturally bounce back and regain their original shape, preventing sagging elbows, stretched necklines, and loose cuffs.

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